Chapter 672: Chapter 673 Dissonance
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The head rolled off, its eyes wide with shock, staring intently at Chen Yuanyuan, refusing to close in death.

He couldn’t comprehend to his last breath why his own wife not only didn’t save him but instead dealt a painful killing blow. Sadly, he would no longer have a chance to understand.

Witnessing Chen Yuanyuan’s neat and efficient actions, Li Xiaobai was also somewhat astonished as he reached out to untie the bindings of Long Xue beside him.

“Elder brother, I knew you would certainly come to save me!”

Long Xue cried with joy as she threw herself into Li Xiaobai’s embrace. The pent-up gloom and pressure of several months burst forth at that moment. She felt somewhat aggrieved; they had done nothing wrong, yet they were branded as demoniac villains and became targets of universal condemnation.

“Junior sister, I am late, and you have suffered!”

“Now that elder brother is unmatched in the world, no one will dare to pursue us in the future.”

Li Xiaobai gently patted Long Xue’s back, smiling as he spoke.

That was said for Chen Yuanyuan who was standing to the side. Given her high position and status, he wanted to use her as a conduit to spread his fame, to save the officials who coveted the Spirit Realm Technique some effort, to discourage them from their futile endeavors.

“Mm-hm, elder brother, no one will dare to bully us anymore!”

“Cough cough, now that the truth has come to light, all this was someone within the government trying to secretly frame Young Master Li, leading to this calamity. Fortunately, the culprit has now been punished, which can be considered a joyous occasion.”

Chen Yuanyuan, standing to the side, coughed lightly and said with a smile.

“The truth has come to light?”

“With all the common people gone, what good does the truth being revealed do? Who would believe it if it’s told?”

Li Xiaobai sneered dismissively. The woman before him was callous and ruthless, definitely not a kind soul. She had just executed her own husband and was now chatting and joking with him as if nothing had happened, a truly ruthless person!

“That’s not the way to put it. You made the man confess his lifetime of crimes just before his death, which is punishing the wicked and removing evil, just what a chivalrous wanderer should do. With one less corrupt person, our Central Plains Imperial Court regains a bit more justice.”

Chen Yuanyuan said, her voice indifferent to the corpse on the ground, treating it as if it were a stranger.

“From what you’re saying, are you different from those officials?”

Li Xiaobai asked.

“Of course, I’m different. The Chen Family has defended the borders for years. Regarding the safety of the Central Plains, my Chen Family is even more concerned than the current Emperor. Now the Southern Barrens are invading, and the Central Plains Imperial Court is corrupt; the young Emperor is inept, at the brink of total collapse. If this continues, the Southern Barrens will invade in full force, and the common people will live in dire straits—something I believe Young Master Li does not wish to see so readily.”

“So what are you trying to say?”

“Although the Southern Barrens have fifteen high-level Martial Artists of the Refinement Void Realm, what really determines the outcome of the battle are the lower-ranking soldiers. If we can quickly raise the strength of these soldiers, the border will be solid as a rock!”

“You want my Spirit Realm Technique?”

Li Xiaobai’s gaze narrowed, revealing a dangerous glint.

“Indeed, I would like to request that you go to the border in person to teach the first part of the Spirit Realm Technique. We only need to raise the Martial Artists’ strength to the Spirit Refining stage. Once the situation at the border is stable, I will purge the court and restore your good reputation!”

Chen Yuanyuan cut straight to the point.

“Elder brother, such an Imperial Court is not worth our rescue.”

Long Xue spoke from the side, her slight sense of compassion having been completely eroded by Official Zhao.

“Lady Long, you are mistaken. What needs to be saved is not the Imperial Court, but the common people, the living beings under heaven. Have you considered the calamity that would befall them if the Southern Barrens were to massively invade the Central Plains, pillaging and committing atrocities? From ancient times, it is the common people who suffer in times of war.”

“Now that the court is inept and corrupt, utterly useless, the Chen Family also deeply laments and will soon purge those parasites!”

“I can promise you that every single corrupt official in the Imperial Court will be pulled out by my Chen Family and beheaded before all under heaven!”

Chen Yuanyuan pronounced each word with sincerity.

Long Xue was speechless. Indeed, what the other had pointed out touched her weak spot. She could ignore anyone, but the common people were innocent, deceived by the Imperial Court, having lost the ability to judge, ultimately just pitiable souls.

“How can you assure me?”

Li Xiaobai asked with narrowed eyes.

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“This is my Chen Family’s Token, with which you can mobilize three thousand of our armored soldiers. This is a sign of our sincerity,” Chen Yuanyuan said as she took out a token.

“My elder brother said if Young Master Li is willing to go to battle, he could temporarily entrust half of the Tiger Talisman to Young Master Li!”

Li Xiaobai understood the implication; military power was the most pivotal asset to a family. Regardless of status, only with military power in hand could one have a say in matters. The Chen Family’s willingness to directly offer the Token, even promising the Tiger Talisman, clearly showed great sincerity.

“Even willing to give me the Tiger Talisman, does that mean you plan to move against the young Emperor?” Li Xiaobai asked meaningfully.

“Exactly, with the young Emperor so incompetent and tyrannical, my Chen Family is prepared to establish a new ruler.”

“You’re telling me all this without any reservation; aren’t you afraid that I might kill you to silence you and use your Token to cause trouble?”

“Even faced with overwhelming accusations and the scorn of the people, you have still refrained from killing the innocent. I bet you’re a good person,” Chen Yuanyuan smiled and said.

“Well said. I will take on the task, but I’ll only use the most basic methods to enhance the martial artists’ strength. Don’t even think about getting your hands on the Spirit Realm Technique by using this opportunity,” Li Xiaobai said.

Chen Yuanyuan replied, “Of course. But the situation at the border is urgent. If the Southern Barren Lands launch another attack, my elder brother will have to share his fate with the city walls. I urge Young Master Li to head there as soon as possible.”

“Understood, I’ll arrive by tomorrow,” Li Xiaobai glanced at the woman and responded indifferently. He always felt there was something off about her, but at the moment could not pinpoint what it was. He had to suppress his doubts for now.

“The battlefield is no place for jest, and it’s inconvenient for women to enter. If Lady Long doesn’t mind, she could stay temporarily at my residence for the following days. No one would dare to disturb her,” Chen Yuanyuan said to Long Xue.

“No way, I want to be with my senior brother!” Long Xue stated firmly. She had just reunited with Li Xiaobai; how could she bear to be separated from him again?

“However, the battlefield is chaotic and ever-changing. With Lady Long’s average cultivation level, rashly entering it might distract Young Master Li,” Chen Yuanyuan continued to persuade her. Her words were reasonable, leaving Long Xue speechless. Even Li Xiaobai found no room to interject—not that he feared being burdened, but because with so many experts in the Southern Barren Lands, it would be worrisome if Long Xue were to get hurt.

“Junior sister, stay with the lady and don’t go anywhere. I will quickly enhance the martial artists’ cultivation levels and then come back for you,” Li Xiaobai looked at Long Xue, his eyes burning with determination.

“The people shouldn’t suffer unduly, and we can’t bear baseless infamy for life. After clearing our names, we’ll find a tranquil mountain forest to live a secluded life, no longer concerning ourselves with the world’s strife,” Li Xiaobai continued earnestly.

Long Xue blushed at his gaze, her heart racing with anticipation for their future time together, which made her approval inevitable. She whispered, “I’ll listen to you.”

“I entrust my junior sister to you, madam. I hope that when I return, she has not been bothered in any way,” Li Xiaobai said.

“Certainly, with me here, no one would dare touch a hair on her head,” Chen Yuanyuan smiled and replied.

“That’s very good.”

Li Xiaobai nodded, his figure flickered, and with a light tap of his foot, he vanished into the depths of the void in an instant.

“Young Master Li is truly a dragon among men. That is the true spirit of a chivalrous wanderer. Lady Long, you are very fortunate. Even I envy you,” Chen Yuanyuan teased Long Xue as she looked at Li Xiaobai’s receding figure.

“Madam, you jest,” Long Xue said softly with a red face, her expression filled with sweetness.

But what she didn’t notice was that, as they turned around, a cold curve suddenly formed on the corner of Chen Yuanyuan’s mouth…